Speed of Life

Woke up this morning to a haunting image of Mamadou Diallo and his young son walking by a mural of his deceased cousin Amadou Diallo. Amadou Diallo was mercilessly shot by the NYPD as he reached for his wallet in an attempt to placate the undercover cop's demands. More than once, because of this event, I have told my son, "If an officer stops you - Promise me, you always be polite. And that you'll never. never run away. Promise that you'll always keep your hands in sight." I stood up against the stage as Springsteen and the E-Street band sang these words in Bruce's homage to Diallo - "American Skin" - during the "Rising" tour. Clarence Clemons' face was streaked with tears as he intoned the refrain "41 shots". Enricsalas' YouTube video is a poignant mash-up of Springsteen and the E-Street Band's brave rendition from a series of concerts in Madison Square Garden, that some members of the NYPD naively picketed, overlayed...

by Gregg Chadwick Land of Hope and Dreams (Song by Song Review of Bruce Springsteen's New Album - Wrecking Ball) People get ready, there's a train a-comin' You don't need no baggage, you just get on board All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin' Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord - Curtis Mayfield, People Get Ready Central Railroad of New Jersey Steam 4-6-2, Jersey City, New Jersey, February 06, 1954  My grandfather on my mother's side spent his working life as a train engineer on the Jersey Central Line. That itself sounds like a Springsteen lyric and explains part of my great love for  Land of Hope and Dreams . ( Listen Here ) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band first performed the song during the reunion tour in 1999, a live version was released on   Live in New York City in 2001  and also   on  The Essential Bruce Springsteen  in 2003.   The version of  Land of Hope and Dreams  featured on...

by Gregg Chadwick Land of Hope and Dreams (Song by Song Review of Bruce Springsteen's New Album - Wrecking Ball) People get ready, there's a train a-comin' You don't need no baggage, you just get on board All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin' Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord - Curtis Mayfield, People Get Ready Central Railroad of New Jersey Steam 4-6-2, Jersey City, New Jersey, February 06, 1954  My grandfather on my mother's side spent his working life as a train engineer on the Jersey Central Line. That itself sounds like a Springsteen lyric and explains part of my great love for  Land of Hope and Dreams . ( Listen Here ) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band first performed the song during the reunion tour in 1999, a live version was released on   Live in New York City in 2001  and also   on  The Essential Bruce Springsteen  in 2003.   ...